Three months out from the new A-League Women season, Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix have announced new arrivals(30/7/23).
Above: Claudia Cicco in Wellington Phoenix colours last season, has joined Newcastle Jets. Photo: Friends of Football.
Newcastle Jets have announced the signing of Young Matildas defender Claudia Cicco for the 2023/24 season.
Cicco joins the Jets from Wellington Phoenix where she spent the 2022/23 A-League Women’s campaign in her debut season. Predominantly a centre-back, Cicco is able to operate in a number of positions including as a wing-back, winger, and striker.
Originally from Sydney, Cicco played her junior football for Hurlstone Park Wanderers before playing for Football NSW Institute. Cicco then moved on to APIA Leichhardt before heading over to the Wellington Phoenix where she made a total of 13 appearances in her debut A-League season.
Cicco also made her first appearance for the Young Matildas (U20s) and scored a hat-trick earlier this year against Guam.
Cicco is eager to arrive in Newcastle and make an impact for the 2023/24 A-League season.
“Obviously I’m very excited to be joining the Jets for the coming campaign. I can’t wait to further challenge myself and meet my future teammates. I feel really privileged to have a coach in Gary van Egmond and I’m sure we can achieve great things this season.”
Above: Rebecca Lake in action for Canterbury United Pride. Photo: Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix backed up the loss of Cicco by securing Rebecca Lake, a key member of the Canterbury United Pride side that won six national titles in the past decade.
Lake, 24, has played for the Pride since 2014 and in 2020 captained the three-peat winning side, which featured Phoenix regulars Kate Taylor, Alyssa Whinham and Marisa van der Meer, and Football Ferns Annalie Longo, and Gabi Rennie.
“I love the Pride and I’ve loved playing beside all of them,” Lake said. “I look up to them now, so it’ll be awesome to be playing alongside some of them again. I think this is the next step for me. I’ve watched a lot of A-League games over the past couple of seasons and I was like ‘I want to be a part of that’.
“Some of my really good football mates play for the Phoenix and it seems right to play for New Zealand’s only professional women’s team. I want to give professional football a shot and see what I can do.”
The proud Cantabrian is currently playing for Northern Tigers in the New South Wales National Premier Leagues (NPL) first-grade competition after making the move to Sydney earlier this year and has been named in the NSW NPL team of the week twice this season.
“I’ve lived in Christchurch most of my life and I’ve loved playing with the girls there, but I just felt like I needed to do something different this season. I wanted to play in the NPL over here. I heard the New South Wales NPL was the best in Aussie, underneath the A-League. I’ve found it to be competitive and I think it was a good learning curve for me to leave New Zealand.”
Lake has represented New Zealand at U-17 and U-20 level and was one of eight uncapped players named in the Football Ferns squad for their two matches against the USA in January.
Alongside football, Lake works full-time as an accountant and will soon become a fully qualified chartered accountant. She plans to continue to work part-time when she arrives in Wellington for the start of pre-season and is excited about the chance to play professional football.
“I’m a centre back who focuses on composure, pass completion, and aerial dominance. I’m looking forward to the challenge of the A-League and playing with the Phoenix this season. I’m going to be competing for a starting spot, but if I’m not there yet I’m still going to bring my leadership and support to the team.
“I was talking to (coach) Paul (Temple) and he was saying ‘your experience through football, but also life is paramount’ so hopefully I can be a bit of a leader and older head even though I’m only 24-years-old.”
Temple says Lake has earned her first professional contract by being a consistent high performer in the national league.
“It’s important there is a pathway for our young women who perform well domestically,” he said. “So many of our players came through the national league and it’s great to be able to give Bex an opportunity to join them at the next level.
“Despite being young she’s won numerous titles, and she’s a fierce competitor that will add leadership to our squad. Bex deserves this opportunity and I’m convinced she has the character and quality to step up into professional football.”
Lake is the seventh player confirmed in the Wellington Phoenix women’s squad for the 2023-24 season, joining fellow defenders Mackenzie Barry and Marisa van der Meer, midfielders Chloe Knott and Alyssa Whinham, and forwards Michaela Robertson and Emma Main.
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Some teams at the World Cup have been stuttering through wins; others have had their exits already confirmed. However, a select few have been flying and putting on a display worthy of champions, and one who have really established their title credentials and who fall into that final category is Japan.
The 2011 world champions have been a joy to watch and have attracted a lot of praise for their style and creativity on the pitch during their opening two fixtures, with them getting the balance right between playing attractive football and securing the results that they have needed to progress to the knockout stages.
Their success has come down to each player knowing their roles and understanding what they can bring to the overall package, but whilst attention has tended to gravitate towards the likes of Mina Tanaka, Yui Hasegawa, and Risa Shimizu when looking at standout members of the squad so far, there is one who has gone a little under the radar.
Fūka Nagano didn’t feature against Costa Rica, with head coach Futoshi Ikeda opting to rest her, but there was little doubt that she played a vital role in their opening-round win against Zambia and was a key reason for them being so productive in front of goal.
Her footballing background
A former Asian Young Footballer of the Year, Nagano’s footballing journey began at Urawa Reds, where she won the Nadeshiko League (the then-Japanese top flight) in 2014 and the League Cup three years later. It was obvious even at that early stage of her career that she had something about her and that she would be a star of the future, and Urawa knew that it would be difficult to keep hold of her for too long.
Sure enough, her strong performances did indeed lead to external interest and a move to South Korea beckoned in 2018, with Nagano joining Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. Whilst she helped the team to the WK League title that year, she had only been handed a one-year contract, so her time in South Korea was brief and she returned home to join Chifure AS Elfen Saitama the following year, before then moving on to MyNavi Sendai in 2021.
Above: Fūka Nagano in action for Liverpool. Photo: Liverpool FC Women.
However, in 2022, arguably her biggest move was made, with North Carolina Courage calling and the NWSL the destination for her next foray abroad. It was a move that paid off for her personal progression, with her putting on some really good displays in one of the toughest and most competitive leagues in the global women’s game, and her performances quickly attracted envious glances from other clubs and coaches, including Liverpool’s Matt Beard, who brought her to Merseyside in January of this year.
Internationally, Nagano has enjoyed just as much success, with her achieving honours at most age levels. Just some of those include being part of the U16 and U17 Japan teams that won continental and world titles, whilst she captained the U17 Japan side that finished as runners-up in the 2016 World Cup in Jordan, picking up the Golden Ball award for the highest tournament scorer in the process.
She received her first senior call-up in June 2018 but had to wait until November of the same year to make her debut, during a meeting with Norway. The 2019 Women’s World Cup came just too soon for her, but 2023 was very much in her sights and she has really made a name for herself during her time down under so far.
Her role with Liverpool
When looking at Nagano’s playing style, it is not hard to see why she has had such a successful career so far. Her usual role is a deep-lying distributor, and she has spoken publicly about her love for passing and starting attacks from inside her own half.
The system that best suits her qualities is a 4-3-3, as it gives her support on either side and three forwards who can split and stretch defenders ahead of her, all of which equates to a range of spaces being created for her to target with her pinpoint passes.
When she moved to Liverpool though, she found that they favoured a 5-3-2 shape, with Beard preferring to have wing-backs and just two players at the top of the field. Therefore, Nagano has needed to adapt to a different setup on Merseyside, with there not being the wide attacking threats that she has had at other clubs and instead there being a greater reliance on playing through the thirds in transition when building attacks.
Above: Fūka Nagano and Japan are looking to advance into the latter stages of the World Cup. Photo: The News Market.
This is not something that has fazed her though, and she has instead used these experiences to her advantage, by her adding new elements to her game and continually working hard to develop what she can offer. Once she had got a few games under her belt, she quickly established herself as a key cog in the Liverpool machine, both in and out of possession, and it was her presence that allowed the likes of Missy Bo Kearns and Ceri Holland to play in more advanced areas and to demonstrate a greater goalscoring threat during the latter stages of the WSL campaign.
Fitting into the Japanese system
Under Ikeda’s stewardship, Japan have always used players in areas that suit their capabilities, and this rigid structure helps them to shift the ball through the thirds and to have a solid defensive shape to fall back on whenever they lose the ball.
Nagano has been a key part of that, with her ability to sit back ensuring that Japan have a lynchpin in front of their back three that gives them the freedom to push others higher up the pitch. Certainly, her presence is one of the reasons that Hasegawa has been able to revert to her creative playmaking abilities around the final third, rather than the deeper protective role that she has taken up since moving to Manchester City.
However, Japan are also very adaptable and will find different ways to win games if their original plans are limited by what their opponents do against them. This has been increasingly evident in the World Cup so far, with Zambia playing very openly and allowing the former world champions to pass through them, whilst Costa Rica sat back more and didn’t allow the same spaces to open up.
This means that there have been games when some players would not have fitted into the necessary style, and that was one of the reasons that Nagano was not used against the Central Americans. Against Zambia, the high back line gave her chances to make long passes and to distribute in her usual fashion, but the greater focus on wing play against Costa Rica meant that there wasn’t as much of a need for her creative passes.
Whilst that might indicate a few limitations to her game, what is clear is that she is a key player for her country when they are allowed to play their expansive, exciting brand of football, and, whilst there are perhaps bigger names in the squad, she is a vital cog that they do miss when she is not on the field.
David P. Astill is a freelance journalist who is guest-writing for Impetus throughout the World Cup.
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Above: The Matildas re-group after the loss to Nigeria Photo: Football Australia
The Matildas lost to Nigeria on Thursday night. Nigeria was fast, physical, and clinical. The Matildas were anything but. It cost them the match, and if things don’t go well against Canada next Monday, it could cost them the World Cup. But it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it could actually be a blessing in disguise.
I’m sure there are hundreds of articles out there that analyse how and why the Matildas lost the match. But that doesn’t interest me in the slightest. All that matters is the bigger picture. The Matildas have often struggled against lower ranked opponents but then performed really well when the pressure is on. As Sam Kerr herself said in her episode of Icons, “It’s still to this day, the challenge of the Matildas. We can play really well against top teams, but against the lower ranked teams it can be tough to get up to those games.”
In the 2019 Women’s World Cup, Australia lost to the lower ranked Italy in their opening group stage match. But they were then able to turn around and beat Brazil and Jamaica to make it through to the knockout rounds. More recently, they lost to lower ranked Scotland, and then four days later beat the best team in the world, England. Basically, the situation they find themselves in now is not new territory for the Matildas.
Their loss to Nigeria is actually hauntingly similar to Germany’s loss to Zambia just three weeks ago. A top 10 team that plays attacking, high-press football, exposed numerous times on the counterattack by the sheer speed and physicality of an African side with a much lower ranking. Believe it or not, the scoreline was the same as well. The reason I mention this is because that was Germany’s wake-up call. Luckily for them it came just before the World Cup. They were able to take what they learned from that match, make adjustments, and work on their improving their game in training before the World Cup even started. They have since made a scintillating start in their first group stage match, with a 6-0 win over Morocco.
The Matildas loss to Nigeria is their wake-up call. Granted, it has come at a bad time, and now they must beat Canada in their last group stage match to ensure that they qualify for the knockout rounds of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. A home World Cup. The opportunity of a lifetime. The pressure is most certainly on. But as Matildas player Emily Gielnik said to KeepUp’s Dub at the CupPodcast, “We thrive under pressure.”
This is a blessing in disguise because the Nigeria match taught the Matildas and Tony Gustavsson a number ofvaluable lessons. Now they have the chance to take those lessons, make adjustments, and work on improving their game in training. If the Matildas do that, they can do what they have historically done, they can do what Germany did, they can turn this around.
There is a reason “never say die” is stitched into the Matildas player jerseys. That’s because it’s not only a part of the fabric of their clothes but it is part of the fabric of their very being. Nowhere was this epitomised more than in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when Australia was down 1-2 against Great Britain late in the match, facing near certain elimination. The Matildas were able to dig deep, and Sam Kerr found an equaliser in the 89th minute to send the match to extra time, in which Kerr scored again to win the match.
Speaking of which, it is essential that Kerr play a role in the match against Canada. Her leadership on the field and unparalleled big match experience will be invaluable to the other players, and her presence alone will undoubtedly inspire the Matildas to new heights. Not to mention that she is one of the best strikers in the world and the Matildas are going to need goals to get through to the next stage. A draw will not cut the mustard.
The Canadian team has a lot going for them: they have a great defence, plenty of attacking threats, and lots of recent experience winning big matches against the very best (they beat USA, Brazil, and Sweden to win the Olympic gold medal). But they’ve got two big things going against them as well. The first is the Australian public, who will show up in droves and make their voices heard in Melbourne. The second is their high ranking. Against higher ranked opponents the Matildas are like a school of sharks, and “World No. 7” is just as good as blood in the water to them.
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After yesterday’s superb game in Brisbane between Australia and Nigeria, Impetus‘ African Football Correspondent Emmanuel Faith, who watched the game in Nigeria reflects on his nation’s achievement, whilstBen Gilby, based in Australia for the tournament, reports the thoughts of Matildas’ midfielder Katrina Gorry(28/7/23)
Above: Nigeria celebrate after a night of high drama in Brisbane. Photo: CAF.
History made, records broken
by Emmanuel Faith, Impetus‘ African Football Correspondent in Nigeria
When the final whistle was blown-the reactions were contrasting: an ecstatic jubilant Super Falcons splattered the field with joy, almost preventing the audience from noticing the crestfallen demeanour of the hosts, the Matildas.
The African Queens have just made history-a lot of it actually. From Onome Ebi becoming the oldest African and the second oldest player to feature in the World Cup, to Asisat Oshoala becoming the first African to score in three World Cups.
Both teams were without key players, to be fair to the host, the absence of both Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler was probably a bigger blow than the initial absence of the Falcons’ Talisman Asisat Oshoala, who couldn’t start the game because of a knock (and reported illness), and the suspension of the latest discovery – Deborah Abiodun, whose work rate has been compared with the famous French midfielder Ngolo Kante.
Additionally, unlike the hosts, The Falcons had the injection of two players (Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde) who missed out on the first match due to suspension.
The match started with a swing of momentum as the Super Falcons grew into the game, Uchenna Kanu saw a ball flash across the Matildas’ defence and Ucheibe had a shot go over the post. There were more flurry of chances as Uchenna Kanu slipped while attempting to connect with a through pass from Tony Payne, and Ashleigh Plumptre re-directed a freekick that might have been a routine save for Mackenzie Arnold.
The hosts however grew into the game with Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross dictating the tempo and thwarting any build-up play from the Africans. This pressure led to a couple shots on target and an array of corners. However, the first goal came from an open play in the first minute of extra-time after Chiamaka made a poor goal kick that was intercepted and laid off to Caitlin Foord who found Emily Van Egmond to score with a glorious pass.
The Super Falcons, with momentum on their side equalised with the last action of the half as Uchenna slotted in a deflected shot from Ajibade ensuring the match was even at half-time.
The second half opened with a flurry of actions as both teams played cautiously while being adventurous on the breaks and counters while the host nation were buoyed by the buzzing stadium lit up with shimmering green and gold.
This buzz however halted when Nigeria’s coach Randy Waldrum made a change in the 64th minute, five-time African player of the year – Asisat Oshoala who came on for the goal scorer, Uchenna Kanu. It didn’t take long for her impact to be felt as her first touch led to a corner that led to Nigeria’s second goal.
Above: Uchenna Kanu celebrates her goal for Nigeria against Australia. Photo: Super Falcons Twitter.
A narrowly defended corner kick bounced in and around the box and landed on Ajibade who nodded the ball towards the goal. Arnold attempted to make a save but the ball fell into the path of the experienced defender Osinachi Ohale who put her body in the line to get the ball into the net, however the wonder of the day was yet to happen.
In the 71st minute, Tony Payne who had been amazingly brilliant all evening sent a pin-point ball to Australia’s box with Asisat already making a run. It should have been better dealt with by Kennedy but a moment of error didn’t go unpunished as Asisat pounced on the loose ball for a clean finishing at a rather tight angle – the world went agog, and Nigeria had a two-goal lead.
The Aussies huffed and puffed and finally broke-down a really disciplined resilient Nigeria’s defence as Kennedy nodded home from a corner in the ninth minute of extra time. However, the Super Falcons ensured they held onto their lead to secure their first win of the tournament.
What we learnt
The Matildas missed their star player. As it was with the opening game, the absence of Kerr was obvious as there were a lot of balls that would have been played differently if it was the PFA player of the year leading the line. Caitlin Foord did her best and Van Egmond put in a decent shift, but the return of Kerr will be very crucial if the co-host will have a sniff of the second round.
Critics have slammed Nigeria head coach Randy Waldrum for his poor decision making when it comes to making substitutions, he is either making them at the last minute or being stingy with his choices, but yesterday, he optimised the strength of his bench to get the desired results.
Removing Ifeoma Onumonu and Uchenna Kanu for Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala was great as it enabled Toni Payne and Ucheibe to play more advanced positions as Esther slotted into the midfield. It was Payne who combined with Oshoala to score the third and very important goal.
What next?
Australia plays Canada in their last match and the host might need Kerr to win her race against fitness if they are to progress against the Olympic champions. They need at least a point (while hoping the Super Falcons lose by a margin of two goals against Ireland) or a victory to qualify, whereas the Canadians just need a draw.
The Super Falcons will hope to ride on this momentum and pick up maximum points against a really superb Ireland team who has nothing to play for asides pride, but pride sometimes is everything.
The African giants have sent a message to the world, the underdogs are being inspired to cause more upsets, and if the evidence we have seen so far is true, then the world should watch out for what the Super Falcons have in store. Right now, they are soaring and the world is watching them reach new heights.
Gorry: There were positives but we have to manage the transitions better
by Ben Gilby in Australia.
Above: Australia’s Katrina Gorry speaking in the mixed zone after the match yesterday. Image: CommBank Matildas.
Australia midfielder Katrina Gorry emphasised the need for her team to focus on the positives in their performance against Nigeria and use the home crowd to drive them forward to gain the win they need against Canada on Monday to make it into the last 16.
Speaking in the mixed zone after the game, Gorry highlighted the fact that despite missing key attacking players, and having unsettling moments at the back, The Matildas did look good coming forward.
“It’s obviously disappointing, I still think we created a lot of chances. We kept possession of the ball well, so there were some positives to take out of the game. We’ve got to be ready (for the Canada game on Monday) and we’ve got to recover well and be prepared.”
However, the Queenslander was well aware of the aspects of play that let the co-hosts down and emphasised those areas they need to work on before Monday: “We need to regain second balls and have our defence in the best positions so we don’t get done on the transitions.
“It’s going to be a good game against Canada. We both need a win. We know we are good when our backs are against the wall. We believe in ourselves and know we have the home crowd advantage (in our favour.)”
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Above: Republic of Ireland’s Katie McCabe (right) has had a sensational World Cup on her country’s first appearance in the tournament. Photo: Katie McCabe Twitter.
In the past 20 years, 17 nations have made their debut on the world stage. Only three have ever made it out of the group on their first try. Although none of these teams managed to get a point out of this first round of games, can any of the eight debutants this year break new ground?
From the moment the Haitian players stepped out onto the pitch to face England, they blew the world away. They held themselves with determination and pride, and from the second the whistle sounded, England had no idea what had hit them.
Haiti played physically, but not violently, withstanding pressure and fouls from the European champions whilst creating their own promising attacks. Haiti were in the game the whole time, causing England fans to fret and fear the worst. Only losing 1-0 on a penalty to one of the best teams in the world was a huge statement from the Haitians. If they continue on this trajectory, they could realistically make it out of the group.
Players who impressed included Kethna Louis, Karly Théus, Batcheba Louis, and, unsurprisingly, Melchie Dumornay.
Kethna Louis was a strong, quick decision-making presence in the back line who rarely fumbled or allowed for an England player to get the better of her. Théus put on a masterclass in goal, only allowing Georgia Stanway’s game-winning penalty past her (after saving the first but breaching her line, causing a retake to be necessary).
Batcheba Louis used her body to shelter and progress the ball in a way that utterly perplexed the English defence at times. Dumornay was a menace the whole game, causing the defenders, as well as Mary Earps, to have quite a few scares. This team’s strength captured the hearts of all the neutral fans in the ground and all over the world.
Morocco
Above: Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco. Photo: Morocco World News.
While Morocco faced the worst smashing of any of the debutants, they also faced the biggest gap in rankings. Germany is ranked second, whereas Morocco are seventy-second.
Morocco looked completely out of their depth most of the game, only creating very miniscule chances that ultimately led to nothing. The team didn’t seem to be communicating well enough to snuff out any of Germany’s attacks, as well as causing problems of their own and even finding the back of their own net twice.
Defensively, they lacked cohesion and it seemed there was tension with the goalkeeper, who was very harsh on her defenders. If they had kept the score to 0-0 for longer, they could have retained some composure and continued to press forward to make use of their talented attackers. Morocco were frustrated and overwhelmed, but there were still bright spots in Ghizlane Chebbak and Zineb Redouani.
Although there was not much room for Chebbak to operate, the captain still managed to have a few chances, as well as set up her teammates in front of goal. Redouani showed her passion and skill the whole match, as she desperately tackled, cleared, and hustled to make sure the Germans weren’t getting goals too easily.
Although the scoreline showed the ocean of difference in resources and talent between these sides, there were Moroccan players who gave admirable and gutsy performances to give fans hope for the rest of the group stage.
Panama
Above: Panama’s Aldrith Quintero. Photo: La Prensa Panama.
Panama faced a tough test against Brazil, but ultimately showed character as they limited them to only four goals.
The Panamanians managed to cause chaos and make the path to the goal less straightforward. There seemed to be a resignation about the side at first, content to weather endless attacking moves from Brazil, but they looked stronger and more determined in the second half.
Although they didn’t have many opportunities to showcase their attacking options, when facing a lower calibre team, they will have to give fans a taste of their abilities going forwards. In a tough group, this team will need to dig deep to find a truly impressive performance. Yenith Bailey put on a very good performance in goal, showing leadership as well as shot-stopping skills. This team may have not looked up to par, but they still have time to prove themselves.
Philippines
Above: Sarina Bolden celebrates after scoring for the Philippines in their historic win over New Zealand. Photo: Sports Inquirer.
This young and ambitious side fell short when facing Switzerland, but the Philippines showed that they are not to be discounted, with a stoic defence, only allowing two goals to squeeze past them.
This squad is a diverse and untested array of players hailing from all over the world, with only one member being born in the Philippines. This gives them a disadvantage because it means very few would have chemistry from youth levels or other development paths.
Although not up to the level of many top teams, they could prove to be difficult for less experienced sides. Some players that made an impact were Olivia McDaniel, Angela Beard, and Katrina Guillou. McDaniel was a commanding presence at the back, inspiring her team with her saves and leading them to a strong defensive performance.
Beard was excellent, showing all of her experience and quality in her defensive work, speed, and smarts. Guillou offered a bright spark going forward, using speed and skills to get around the Swiss players to alleviate the pressure on the Philippines. What can this young team prove on their historical world cup debut?
Portugal
Above: Ana Borges (9) in action for Portugal against England prior to the World Cup. Photo: Lionesses.
It’s hard to believe that this is Portugal’s first World Cup considering the impressive showing they put on against The Netherlands. The Portuguese girls are experienced, yet have so much to prove.
They have many creative, attacking players that were ready to make an impact as well as solid and resolute defenders that only allowed one goal to end up in the back of their net. With players in top clubs around the world, nothing less could be expected of this side.
A side with resources, talent, and desire, they could mean trouble for some top teams. Amongst the Portuguese squad, a few stood out in Tatiana Pinto, Ana Borges, and Jessica Silva. Pinto was important in attack and defence, showing her strength and commitment to her team. Borges was a solid presence in defence, blocking and cutting out promising attacks from the Dutch all game. Silva showed all of her experience when going forward, using tricky footwork and speed to perplex the opposing defence.
As one the more well-off debutants, the Girls in Green certainly did not underwhelm against the co-hosts Australia. They put up a real fight, throwing in crunching tackles and threatening attacks from the first minute.
Some could say that they were unlucky to escape without at least a point to their name. Defensively, they snuffed out Australia’s attacks pretty successfully and only conceded on a penalty. On the other end of the pitch, they had a few chances they failed to capitalise on as well as a plethora of corners that all came to nothing.
Players that impressed were Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan in the Irish midfield. McCabe played with tenacity and ferocity, making the Australian players think twice before taking her on. She made the game far more difficult for the opposition. O’Sullivan controlled the midfield, quieting the opposing midfield as well as providing a threat in attack. The Republic of Ireland showed promise, and they will surely do everything within their power to continue on this trajectory.
Vietnam
Above: Lê Thị Diễm My – impressive for Vietnam in their opening games. Photo: Tieusunguoinoitieng.
Vietnam fought against the reigning world champions, the USA, with tenacity and determination. They disjointed the American attack enough to frustrate and snuff their confidence. They showed a defensive resolve that proved to be a tough test for the USA and only conceded three goals.
Vietnam did not look strong in many areas of the pitch, showing little to no attacking and creative forces. Could they show more positives against a lesser team? Players that showed up for Vietnam were Tran Thi Kim Thanh, Le Thi Diem My, and Thai Thi Thao.
Tran Thi Kim was stunning in goal, blocking shots from the world’s best players as well as controlling her defensive line to avoid slip-ups. Thi Diem My was a rock in the centre of defence, marshalling the game and not letting any forwards past her without a fight. Thai was a spark in midfield, using her experience to help in defence as well as continuing to push forward. This Vietnamese side showed real promise.
Zambia
Above: Margaret Belemu of Zambia. Photo: Steffen Prößdorf.
Coming into this tournament, there were sky-high hopes for the Copper Queens after brilliant displays against top teams. However, Zambia was completely dismantled by Japan in such a way that would have crushed their hopes.
Japan managed to keep them out of the game by providing a never-ending onslaught of attacks. For a team that thrives on goalscoring, Zambia have had to defend far more than they would have liked. They have a relatively inexperienced backline, as well as a rough goalie situation with their number one sustaining a serious injury before the tournament and their backup receiving a red card in the opening match.
Though they were on the end of a beating, some standouts shone. Margaret Belemu and Martha Tembo were outstanding in defence, working hard all game to quell the waves of Japanese attacks. Belemu made it difficult to access her side of the field, showing off her experience and passion for her country. Tembo was similarly impressive on the other side, forcing her opponents to work extra hard to forge their paths to goal. This Zambian team has great promise and they will hope to show the attacking side of their game in the future.
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Above: (Left to right): Courtney Nevin, Teagan Micah, Charli Grant, and Katrina Gorry are all smiles during today’s pre-game team walk in Brisbane. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.
Australia head into their pivotal second Group B match against Nigeria in Brisbane tonight with a selection conundrum ahead of coach Tony Gustavsson.
After the news yesterday that Manchester City’s Mary Fowler has joined fellow striker Sam Kerr on the sidelines after suffering a concussion in training, The Matildas’ options up front have taken another hit.
With another offensive player Kyah Simon still not ready to return after her ACL injury, it will be a very different attacking line-up tonight at Suncorp Stadium.
Above: Tameka Yallop (left) who could return tonight, pictured with Clare Polkinghorne on today’s team walk through Brisbane. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.
In more positive news, it appears that Tameka Yallop is ready to return after picking up an injury in the Matildas’ final warm-up game against France at Marvel Stadium.
In terms of options for Australia in attack, there is scope for Alex Chidiac to come into the squad and possibly play at 10 alongside Caitlin Foord. Kyra Cooney-Cross could potentially play in a more advanced role, which may in turn lead to a possible starting spot for Emily van Egmond.
Above: Cortnee Vine (left) and Clare Wheeler, pictured today in Brisbane. Both could play a key part in tonight’s match with Nigeria. Photosupplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.
The pace and energy of Cortnee Vine will need to be a significant element of Australia’s attack tonight in addition against a Nigeria side who gained a point against current group leaders Canada in their opening game.
A win for Australia will guarantee them a place in the last sixteen, anything less will likely see them need to take something from their final group game against Canada, a match which Fowler should be ready to return for. As for Kerr, head coach Gustavsson is keeping it tight-lipped, suggesting no decisions will be made until the day before the match. The Chelsea striker was pictured in today’s West Australian newspaper doing weight training.
Above: Mackenzie Arnold. The Matildas goalkeeper has been in superb form. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Football Australia.
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With every nation at the World Cup having played at least one match now, Ben Carey considers who he believes are the most impressive teams to date (27/7/23)
Above: Ary Borges celebrates her hat-trick in Brazil’s opening win over Panama. Photo: Sydney Morning Herald.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup has kicked off in fashion with one of the most exciting and competitive first weeks ever. I was impressed by a number of teams, but the following three teams are the ones that I felt put in the strongest performances throughout their opening matches.
Brazil
Brazil looked like the most dangerous team in the world after their performance against Panama. Their performance was characterised by lightning fast, dynamic movement across the field, which proved lethal to Panama’s midfield and backline. They also showed great synergy.
Everyone seemed to be on the same page with passes almost always finding their mark and most of their clever strategic plays paying off. Borges’ back-heel pass to Zaneratto in the box to set up the third goal demonstrated this beautifully.
Brazil showed variety in their attacks with goals coming from the front line and the midfield, off the foot and the head, and assists from three separate players. The football they played was flashy but technical and their conversion rate was decent (44%).
Brazil also had good squad depth, being able to go up by three goals before they even brought on two of their star players Marta and Geyse.
Their first big test will come in their next match against world number five, France, who have a much stronger defence than Panama. It will be interesting to see if they can maintain this level.
Germany
Above: Two goal Alexandra Popp celebrates in Germany’s opener against Morocco. Photo: Guardian.
Germany was ruthless against Morocco, beating them 6-0, the highest goal difference in a single Women’s World Cup match since USA beat Thailand in the group stage of the 2019 edition. Granted, two of these goals were own goals, but Germany pressed hard and put the ball in awkward spots to force those errors.
The German team played fast, aggressive football with a lot of variety, attacking Morocco equally from the left and right side, and coming at them directly down the middle at times as well. They scored just as many from air as they did from the ground (discounting own goals).
One of the most impressive things was their excellent conversion rate (67% not counting own goals), which was something they struggled with in their 3-2 friendly loss to Zambia just before the World Cup.
Germany also displayed the incredible depth of their squad. Two of their best players, Oberdorf and Hegering, were not able to play the match due to injury, but German coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg was easily able to find their replacements. Also, they were able to bring on the likes of Schüller after an hour and had Chelsea’s number one keeper, Berger, on the bench in case anything happened to Frohms.
Japan
Above: Hikaru Naomoto pictured after scoring in Japan’s win over Costa Rica. Photo: FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Japan also played fast, attacking football, but they were probably the most technically sound football of the lot. Their passing accuracy was high, the accuracy of crosses was very good, and the finishing touches were sublime. Japan’s conversion rate was decent (45%).
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Japan though was not even their attack, but their midfield and defensive structure. Zambia are known for their fast-paced, counter-attacking football. When they beat Germany 3-2 in the friendly they managed to break through the German defences numerous times and get off four shots on goal. Japan was able to shut down every single attacking play from Zambia, and that speaks volumes.
Honourable Mentions
It’s definitely worth giving a few honourable mentions to USA and Spain. USA did look strong against Vietnam, but it was a long way from the fearsome performance they put in against Thailand in the group stages four years ago.
The defending champions dominated possession but for most of the match they just weren’t able to use that possession effectively. Also, Morgan’s penalty kick was woeful. She’ll have to work on that for the knockout rounds.
Spain was fierce in the first half against Costa Rica, they dominated possession, passed quickly and accurately, and pressed high. But they lacked intention and synergy in the second half, and their conversion rate was abysmal (14% not counting the own goal). They will have to improve on those factors drastically before they face Japan.
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Above: South Melbourne celebrate one of thier goals against Preston Lions. Image: South Melbourne FC Instagram
Box Hill United 2-1 Bayside United.
While the finals teams in the Victorian NPLW seem settled, Box Hill and Bayside are both lurking just outside of the top four and have been in strong form. So when the two sides met on Friday night it was a game that had much at stake.
With three rounds to go of the regular season, a win here would keep pressure on the teams above them, while a loss would mean relying on multiple teams to do them favours.
The opening minutes were dominated by Box Hill, but that was undone by another spectacular effort from Baysides long range specialist Kayla Deaver. The forward received the ball wide on the right and cut in before firing extremely long range. Nothing about the move seemed dangerous until the ball crashed in off the post to give the visitors the lead.
Kayla Deaver scored one of the best goals in Round 19 of the Victorian NPLW.
It took until the second half for Box Hill to hit back. Sofia Sakalis was marginally missed from Asuka Doi’s cut back, but Melinda Marbieri won back possession on the wing for Box Hill.
Nikolina Bucalo was able to exchange passes with Emily Kos and after a clever turn, the ball was whipped in to be met by Kanna Moriya to give Box Hill a 52nd minute equaliser.
Box Hill’s winner would come eight minutes later through Doi. After scrambling to clear an attack, Bayside were under pressure again almost immediately. Bucado’s attemped shot was blocked and Doi slammed home what would turn out to be the game winner.
The win keeps Box Hill within a chance of finals. They are two points behind fourth placed Calder United but have played a game more.
Bayside will finish the season with two winnable games, and a meeting with Calder United. They are not out of it yet.
Alamein FC 2-4 Bulleen Lions
A masterclass in set pieces by Bulleen Lions has launched them into top spot, one point ahead of Boroondara-Carey Eagles after they defeated Alamein in a competitive encounter at Dorothy Laver Reserve.
Bulleen’s game style and personnel has changed drastically throughout the season, but one thing has remained consistent for Caitlin Friend’s team. They are deadly from corner and free kicks.
Alana Jancevski can deliver from one side, Paige Zois from the other, and both cause chaos, especially when the pair combine. Janvevski’s 11th minute corner was whipped in and Tiffany Eliadis directed it across the line from close range.
Alamein hit back through Patricia Charalambous. It was an end to end move by the home side a sublime piece of skill by Elaina Vatcky set Charalambous free to round the onrushing Gaby Garton and finish into the empty net.
Bulleen regained the lead for half time. Maja Markovski’s burst down the right in possession and crossed behind the retreating defenders for Beattie Goad to score. Markovski influence has been growing in recent weeks, and she looks in ominous form as finals approach.
Vatcky replied for Alamein, levelling the scores after a frantic scramble by both sides in the Bulleen defence. It made it 202 in the 50th minute and Bulleen momentarily looked under threat. Then Paige Zois stepped up.
First an undefendable corner kick from the Bulleen number six was headed in by Katie Beck. It was the second of the season from the American and an important one to put her side 3-2 ahead.
Zois then sealed the result herself. Jancevski played the short corner to her at the edge of the penalty box. She took a touch and rifled and effort that nestled inside the netting at the far post.
It was terrific technique from the Melbourne Victory fan favourite, and enough to seal three valuable points.
Bulleen Lions need to beat Alamein in order to keep their title hopes in their own hands.
As things stand, Bulleen are one point ahead of Boroondara, but with an inferior goal difference. They will need to win all three remaining games to guarantee a premiership and top billing for finals, but they are the only team whose destiny remains in their own hands.
Calder United 3-0 FV Emerging.
Calder United are in form, and still building, they have slowly built after a slow start and are into a Nike FC Cup final. The win over FV Emerging on the weekend, has them in a strong position to play finals.
Kiwa Hieda was the architect of this win. She got the home side off to a perfect start with a long range missile in the 11th minute.
She helped set up Larissa Walsh for an easy finish after winning the ball back from a goalkick. The pressing was intense from Calder, they looked to hassle the FV Emerging players into errors at the back, although it took until the 64th minute, it paid off.
Hieda capped off the win with a goal of her own in the 80th minute. After winning possession again in the final third, the Japanese attacker skirted multiple challenges before accelerating into space and slotting home on her left foot from close range.
It was a dazzling display from the speedster, and Calder can secure fourth spot in the next two weeks. In the form they are in, other sides may hope they tumble out.
Southern United 1-1 Heidelberg United
Southern United won a point out of their meeting with Heidelberg United. The home side have struggled against most sides this season, but with The Bergers below their early-season best, they took their chance to avoid defeat for only the third time this season.
Erin Keyt got the home side off to a strong start. She took her chance after Yuka Sato released Rhiannon Kelleher into space behind the Heidelberg defence. The shot was initially blocked by the goalkeeper before Keyt bundled it in on the line.
Heidelberg introduced Nicole Blackett into the game in the first half and her influence rescued a point with a second half goal.
Keeley Lockhart received the ball from a brilliant Kathryn Vlahopoulos touch and played in Blackett who shot across goal to level the scores in the 76th minute.
The result helped Heidelberg avoid a disaster and denied Southern United their first win of the year, but it was not what most would have been expecting going into this match. Their top four hopes are over for this season.
Preston Lions 1-4 South Melbourne
A sensational goal from Kaitlyn Torpey was not enough for Preston Lions against South Melbourne who boasted an Olympico amongst their four efforts on Sunday.
South still have the title within their sights, but are also sharpening their game ahead of an inevitable finals campaign. Danielle Wise opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Tayla Christensen’s low cross was turned in by the co-captain.
Torpey’s effort levelled the scores just moments later. Miri Nishimura intercepted the ball to cut off South Melbourne’s patient buildup and Torpey raced onto the resulting pass to finish venomously past Miranda Templeman.
South retook the lead in the 39th minute when Christensen’s corner kick swung directly into goal, Akeisha Sandhu’s penalty kick gave them a two goal cushion before half time.
Wise scored her second of the afternoon after a miscommunication between Lisa Fonua and Emma Checker presented the South Melbourne striker with the easiest of tap ins.
The win keeps South in third place, and just four points off top placed Bulleen. A premiership is still a strong possibility, but they will play Calder United next week and Boroondara in the final game of the season. They will need some things to go their way and do everything right themselves.
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Ben Gilby provides a full report from the game of the week, plus all the details from the other matches in Western Australia’s NPL Women’s competition(23/7/23).
Above: Gemma Craine jumps for joy with Poppie Hooks after scoring for Perth SC in their hugely important win at Fremantle City yesterday. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Cat Bryant.
Main report of the week
Hyundai NTC 2-1 Balcatta Etna
The NTC ran out winners over Balcatta Etna on Sunday afternoon at E&D Litis Stadium in a vital game in the race for the top-four thanks to two goals in as many minutes in the early part of the second half.
This was the NTC’s first NPLW WA match after a fortnight’s break for National NTC challenge duty – a busy period for the teenage side. They did have the benefit of naming a full-strength side for this encounter with a very strong bench as well.
Conversely, Balcatta were missing key players Tia Stonehill, Kim McCartney, Epril Nossent, and Sadie Lawrence for a match that was crucial in the top-four race.
NTC had by far the better of the first half in terms of possession, territory, and the corner count, but the visitors were well organised at the back with Baxter Thew and Elizabeth Doust particularly impressive along with the ever-reliable Gabby Dal Busco in goal.
That strong defence was in evidence on 11 minutes when Mischa Anderson released a teasing ball through which saw Thew hold off the significant threat of new Perth Glory signing Tanika Lala superbly.
This was the beginning of a flurry of opportunities for the hosts. Another new Glory arrival, Georgia Cassidy, hit a trademark long-range bullet that landed in the arms of Dal Busco from 25 yards. Then, the third new Perth Glory signing in the NTC squad, Grace Johnston sent a corner in from the right which Lala met with a firm header, but Dal Busco saved.
Just before the half-hour mark, Maja Archibald smashed a shot from the edge of the box that was well blocked by Doust. There was one further half-chance for the NTC as Lala slalomed through the middle before being stopped in her tracks by Lauren Continibali.
Above: Balcatta Etna’s Monique Prinsloo who went in bravely with NTC goalkeeper Lilly Bailey for a second-half challenge. Photo: JASP Photography.
It was an opening 45 of half chances, but such was the NTC’s creativity, it was frustrating from their perspective that it remained goalless at the break.
The hosts remained in charge of the possession at the start of the second half, and they ultimately secured the points with two goals in quick succession.
With 55 minutes played, Doust’s clearance at the back went straight to Cassidy, left of centre, 20 yards out, and, as is her wont, the talented teenager noticed Dal Busco slightly off her line and fired home a shot that flew into the net.
Moments later, it was 2-0. Anderson picked the pocket of Balcatta substitute Bianka Grdjan and found Lala out on the right. Her ball into the box was turned home by Klaudia Houlis from close range.
The visitors, with substitute Daveskadar Tamru so influential, then rallied. Andrea Bulgaru found Tamru in the box, but her shot rolled past the left-hand post. There was then a lengthy delay as Monique Prinsloo and NTC keeper Lilly Bailey went in bravely for the ball, with the latter requiring treatment before continuing.
With 11 minutes remaining, Balcatta grabbed a lifeline. Tamru was fouled on the left, and Continibali floated in a high flee-kick to the back post. Bailey punched clear, but the visitors came again and forced a corner on the right. Continibali played it in high to the back post, Thew headed across goal for Tamru to head high into the net above the NTC defenders on the line.
The final chances of the game both fell the NTC’s way. Substitute Violet Longmore broke along the left and lifted a cross in which Lala headed over. Then, as the clock ticked into stoppage time, Lala supplied a ball in for Houlis, but Thew intervened brilliantly.
This victory closes the gap between fourth-placed NTC and Fremantle City above them. With two games in hand on the teams above them in the race for post-season football, the NTC hold the key to so many team’s potential outcomes this season. How they cope with such a crowded run-in that also includes a State Cup Semi-Final in this busy period for them with so many three games in a week scheduled will be telling.
BALCATTA ETNA: Dal Busco, Bulgaru, Davis, Doust, Thew, Roach, Continibali, M. D’Opera, Mohammad Zainurrafiq, Bricklebank, Prinsloo. Substitutes: Grdjan, Tamru, Morgan, G. Comito, I. Comito, McGlinn, Robertson.
Scorers: Tamru 79′.
Weekly Wrap
Murdoch University Melville 2-2 Perth RedStar
Above: Charli Wainwright, who put Murdoch University Melville ahead with a stunning Olimpico. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Charli Wainwright.
Leaders Perth RedStar came from behind twice to claim a point against Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) at Besteam Stadium on Friday night.
Having suffered an agonizing defeat deep into stoppage time at Subiaco last time out, MUM FC needed something from this game to maintain their top-four hopes, and they hit the front in some style with 17 minutes played as Charli Wainwright rifled in an Olimpico from the left-hand side.
Ten minutes before the break, the visitors levelled as Chiori Ikeda advanced along the right and found Jay Coleman who in turn played a pass out to Reina Kagami to fire home from outside the box.
Murdoch University Melville went back ahead five minutes into the second half with another stunning strike. This time, it was Sam Mathers who gained possession and lifted an exquisite shot over RedStar keeper Maya Diederichsen and in.
The leaders equalised within two minutes as a corner on the right came in for Coleman to turn home beautifully on the volley.
The outcome offered renewed hope for the chasing pack, particularly for second-placed Perth SC ahead of their own Sunday showdown with Fremantle City.
Curtin University 3-7 Subiaco
Above: Two goals and an assist for Marianna Tabain for Subiaco against Curtin University on Friday night. Photo: JASP Photography.
The second match on Friday night was a 10-goal fest at Edinburgh Oval as Subiaco picked up a second successive win.
Whilst on paper this was a clash of the bottom two, Subi picked up a superb win over top four hopefuls Murdoch University Melville last week, and are comfortably clear of struggling Curtin. Indeed, Greg Farrell’s charges will be looking to push further up the table over the closing weeks of the season now.
Subi hit the front with two minutes played. Danielle Suckling broke through and fed former Perth Glory legend Marianna Tabain who shot low into the net. It was 2-0 a quarter of an hour later with Suckling the creator once more as she fed Frankie Murray to slide in to score. It would be 3-0 to the visitors at the break as Dakota Van Vugt was played through and ran into acres of space to roll the ball home. The visitors increased their lead further within three minutes of the re-start as Suckling hit an effort that rocketed into the top of the net.
However, Curtin, without a win all season, showed great character to hit back. Tiana Botha won possession and played in Hannah Storey who brilliantly slotted home. Within four minutes the hosts were back to 4-2 as they took advantage of a muddle in the Subiaco defence allowing Brianna Corbett to sidefoot home.
The match ended with a stunning spell of four goals in the final 12 minutes. Subiaco went back out to a three-goal lead. Tabain started the move and played in Jasmine Gray wide on the left. After several recycles, Suckling added another assist by rolling the ball for Taylor Reid to thump home. Then came an absolute stunner of a strike from Corbett to bring it back to 5-3. The Curtin player flicked up the ball as it came into her from the wing and, from outside of the box, volleyed home a glorious goal.
Within two minutes, Subi stretched their lead to 6-3 as Reid chased down the home goalkeeper and won the ball allowing Van Vugt to fire home from the edge of the box into an empty net.
The final goal came two minutes from time as Ingrid Gomez Basallo played in Tabain who finished what she started on the evening by slipping the ball into the net.
Fremantle City 0-2 Perth SC
Above: High flying action as Poppie Hooks looks to get her head on the ball for Perth SC at Fremantle City. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Cat Bryant.
Fremantle City’s title hopes took a potentially terminal dent after a second successive defeat at home to a top-four challenger as two goals from former Perth Glory striker Gemma Craine extended the Azzurri‘s current strong run of form.
This victory, Perth’s fifth on the trot, a run that has also brought a longer unbeaten run of eight games, means they have cut Perth RedStar’s lead at the top to just three points – although the team from the northern suburbs could extend their lead if they win their game in hand against Hyundai NTC.
Above: Fremantle City’s Tash Rigby (black kit) and Perth SC’s Judy Connolly leap. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Cat Bryant.
Both teams marked Pride Round with special kit, and it would be the visitors who hit the front when Jess Flannery played the ball in for Craine to nod home from inside the six-yard box.
They made sure of their victory when Jaime Duncanson found Craine to smash home from outside of the area.
Above: Laura Waltman in possession, drives forward, supported by Tash Rigby yesterday. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Cat Bryant.
This is potentially a huge win for Perth SC as the league enters the business end of the season and sets up next Sunday’s showdown between themselves and leaders Perth RedStar.
Photosupplied to Impetus by: Cat Bryant.
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from Kris Goman at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (22/7/23)
Above:Georgia Stanway steps up to take England’s penalty. Photo: Lionesses.
England were not particularly convincing tonight. Overall, the most that could be said was they got the win against the hardworking and hugely talented young Haiti side.
It was very hard to get into any groove in a very disjointed first half plagued by stoppages, injuries, and VAR checks. Even the penalty from Georgia Stanway that won them the match came in two parts and extended due to the Haiti keeper Théus leaving her line early and requiring a retake.
It was difficult to understand, at the ground, what the penalties were for initially as play had to be brought back for the handball after another VAR check was denied. Stanway made no mistakes on her second attempt at the penalty and put it to the left of Théus.
Haiti, on the other hand, threw themselves at everything. A couple of breakaways created some excitement and keep Earps on her toes and she was called on more than once to make a save.
England went in at half-time ahead and, while the stats were all in their favour, Haiti were clearly not to be taken for granted. They were on everything and interrupted the Lionesses’ possession game and threw them into disarray.
Above: Chloe Kelly – who offered a threat on the right. Photo: Lionesses.
England looked more convincing in the second half but still couldn’t put anything away from the field despite many attempts.
Chloe Kelly came alive in the last 20 minutes, using the right-hand side to make inroads and the Manchester City star delivered some beautiful crosses under intense pressure. There was one near miss that Rachel Daly managed to connect with. On the other hand, there were also a couple of very underwhelming corners delivered to the near post and the Haitian defence were able to clear them easily.
England are one of the genuine contenders to win this tournament but that’s not going to happen with a performance like that. It seems some of the more fancied teams have difficulties with less disciplined teams and that was the case tonight. It was another physical contest and it probably won’t be the last.
For England, they take the points but Haiti showed they aren’t here to make up the numbers and could pull off a shock defeat in their first world cup. They’ve got nothing to lose after all.
HAITI (4-2-3-1): Théus, Petit-Frère, Limage, Joseph, Louis, Jeudy, Pierre-Louis, Louis, Dumornay, Mondésir, Borgella. Substitutes used: Mathurin (for Limage 31′), Éloissaintat (for Borgella 78′), Joseph (for Louis 90+3′).
Referee: Emikar Caldera.
Attendance: 44,369.
WORLD CUP COVERAGE ON IMPETUS
TODAY:
TikTok and Instagram Reels (both can be found @ImpetusFootball):
Denise Duffy reports on USA v Vietnam from Eden Park.
Ruby Vince reports on England v Haiti.
Denise Duffy & Jonathon Hagger report on Japan v Zambia from Waikato Stadium.
Aimee Reynolds reports on Denmark v China.
TOMORROW:
Analysis on England’s opener against Haiti from Genevieve Henry who was at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
COMING NEXT WEEK…
Impetus makes the move to Australia for the rest of the World Cup as our number of contributors based at the tournament grows further.
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